The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-17
ragged and cbopfallen plight ofrunaways
being returned home.

being returned home.
Thirty years later Uncle Oy met me at
the depot to take me out to my farm,
"Butler Lodge" Of that runaway
episode in his life be had ever been
reticent, but as we rode along through
the lonely forest I drew him out on it.
"Now tell me; no danger; freedoms
come; tell mo all about it--how you
lodged the patrols and crossed those
rivers, and made the trip" Aud I
slipped q plug Of tobacco into his hand.
Never was a twenty mile journey better
beguiled. He told me all-how they got
up stock Of provisions to start on, and
how they replenished it by the way; the
narrow escapes, the shrewd disguises for
passing through or around the towns and
villages; lying low by day and travelling
by night. Dickens never contrived a
story with richer or more various Incl
dent. Much comedy, but ever and anon
touching on tragedy. Xenophon's
famous retreat with the ten thousand
Greeks did not excel this in strategy.
Out of what was left when emancipa-
ton came Igave him forty acres of land
and (not mule but) yoke of steers, a
COW and calf, some provisions, and his
tools. He soon fixed up snug home
and shop; and what with working at
his craft, and little farming, and such
annual stipend as I could send him in
money. he made out to finish his pill
grimage tolerably we'll. His connubial
morsls improved, and believe in his
salvation. His last letters to me (dicta-
ted) were full of gratitude and hope.
Uncle Cy owed much to his wife-an
honest, truthful and virtuous woman.
She was the best.nurse ever saw, and
ministered with unspeakable fidelity and
tenderness to my parents, and brothers
and sisters on their death beds. "Aunt
Bess" was the first woman I ever heard
pray in public. She was leaven and a
light. Some influence and honest pen
nies she gained by practicipg that delicate
profession which the EgyptiansS in
Moses's time, turned over to their women.
Only once did she fail me. When the
Federal armies we're getting into Ala.
bama we proposed to put our silver
spoons and such things in her keeping.
"Well, master, in course I'll do it if you
say 30, but I can't be 'sponsible. Dem
Yankees is coming, and hesru tell
how dey carries wild 'em somethin' like a
pinter worm, aud when it's sot down dey
tells it to pint wha any money or silver
things is hid, and it pints jest as straight
as gun"
Uncle Cy's family pride was trait
characteristic Of the old regime. have
seen him take his wife down by remind
ing her that be had been in the family
longer than she. Once I had arranged
with neighbor, Squire Fowler, 10 get q
swarm OF bees. Uncle Cy was hollow
ing cat gum, and with some hesitation
said: "Master, don't you know some
people can't git into bees? Our family
is too Industrious for bees. Old master
tried to git into bees, and I member
we'll how old master befo him tried, and
dey never could. It's only lazy, poor
white folks has any luck raising honey"
And he made numerous citations in sup
port of his position. But his aattery
was not to balk my experiment. I got
into bees. At first, they went in and
came out of the little hole at the bottom
of the gum briskly. After awhile, lew
and fewer; then only straggler or two.
We knocked off the top and found a
triangular shaped piece of comb, but no
honey. So ended my first and last
attempt at getting into bees"
Farewell, faithful, loving, dear old
Uncle Cy. I'm sure he loved me and
prayed for me. Indeed, they tell me
that be has been in the habit Of praying
for me, by name, in public meetings.
My family have Joined me every year in
making up box for Uncle Cy and Aunt
Bess, filled with halfworn clothes and
various things, new and old, such as they
liked or needed. Christmas is coming,
but no box goes that way any more'
Our children and the generations follow
ing, can never know the sentiment that
sprung up between the two races under
the system of domestic slavery. 1t had
its evil and it had its good. Both are
gone forever. H. N. McTYEIRE.
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